Design Argument

Question 1

Which philosopher is associated with the design argument?

Answer 1

William Paley

Question 2

Who is William Paley?

Answer 2

William Paley was a British theologian and philosopher who is well-known for his design argument

Question 3

In what book did William Paley present his design argument in?

Answer 3

Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity

Question 4

When was natural theology originally published?

Answer 4

1802

Question 5

What kind of argument is the design argument?

Answer 5

– A posteriori
– Inductive

Question 6

Why is the design argument an a posteriori argument?

Answer 6

The design argument is an a posteriori argument because it is based on empirical observations and evidence from the natural world

Question 7

Why is the design argument an inductive argument?

Answer 7

Inductive arguments are those for which the premises count as evidence for a conclusion

The design argument is an inductive argument because it draws a conclusion about the existence of a designer based on observed patterns

Question 8

Can inductive arguments be used as proofs?

Answer 8

Evidence is not proof

For all we can currently know there is additional evidence we could discover that would disprove the conclusion our current evidence suggests

The technical term for this is that knowledge based on experience is “defeasible”

Question 9

knowledge based on experience is “defeasible” –
what does this statement mean?

Answer 9

There could be further evidence that is currently unknown which would show it to be false

Question 10

What is the design argument

Answer 10

The design argument (also known as the teleological argument) is an argument for the existence of God based on the apparent design and order in the natural world

Question 11

What analogy does William Paley use in the design argument?

Answer 11

Watchmaker analogy

Question 12

What is the Watchmaker Analogy?

Answer 12

There is something about a watch which suggests it had not always been lying there

It is composed of parts which are intricately formed so as to produce a motion which is so meticulously regulated as to point out the hour and minute of the day

It has complexity which is arranged so as to perform a purpose

If the parts were themselves any differently shaped or composed of other materials or were placed in any other arrangement the purpose of telling the time would not have resulted

The watch could not have come about by chance nor been there forever because it has complexity and purpose

This must mean it had a designer – a watch maker

Question 13

Paley then points out there are also things in the universe that are complex and have a purpose – what does he point out?

Answer 13

He points out in particular the complexity of the Human eye which is arranged to fulfil the purpose of enabling us to see

He also points to the wings of a bird and fins of a fish which are examples of complexity fitted together to perform a purpose of flying and swimming

Question 14

Complexity and Order

Answer 14

Paley argued that the intricate complexity and order found in living organisms and the natural world cannot be the result of chance or randomness

He believed that such complexity and order necessitate an intelligent designer

Question 15

William Paley watchmaker analogy quote

Answer 15

“Every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature”

Question 16

Fine-Tuning Argument

Answer 16

Paley also made the case for the fine-tuning of the universe

He argued that the precise balance of physical constants and conditions necessary for life to exist strongly suggests the existence of an intelligent designer

Question 17

What is Occam’s razor?

Answer 17

Occam’s razor (also known as lex parsimoniae) is a principle that states that among competing hypotheses the one with the fewest assumptions or entities should be preferred

Question 18

Which quote is associated with Occam’s razor?

Answer 18

“Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity”

Question 19

How can Occam’s razor be used as a strength for the design argument?

Answer 19

God is the simplest explanation of the design in the world

Question 20

What is the design argument also known as?

Answer 20

The teleological argument

Question 21

Paley’s design qua Purpose

Answer 21

The combination of complexity and purpose (which we observe in natural objects and beings) is best explained by a designer

Question 22

Anthropomorphic

Answer 22

Language
that attributes human
characteristics or ideas to
non-human entities

Question 23

How can anthropomorphism be utilised as a critique against the design argument?

Answer 23

The use of human-like attributes to explain the design of the universe is problematic because it relies on an analogy between human creations and cosmic phenomena

This anthropomorphic projection may lead to an oversimplification of the nature of the designer and the complexities involved in the creation of the universe.

Question 24

What counters the idea provided by Occam’s razor that God is the simplest explanation of the design in the world?

Answer 24

Hume’s epicurean hypothesis

Question 25

What is Hume’s Epicurean hypothesis?

Answer 25

The universe (including its order and complexity) could have arisen from the random combination of atoms and natural processes – without the need for an intelligent designer

Question 26

How can Hume’s Epicurean hypothesis be used as a critique against the design argument?

Answer 26

It is also consistent with modern science but explains order and design without reference to a God – showing that the God explanation is unnecessary

It suggests that the apparent order and complexity in the universe can be the result of natural processes and random chance rather than the deliberate work of an intelligent designer

Question 27

The fact that the design argument is a posteriori can be viewed as a strength – How does Hume counter this strength?

Answer 27

Hume aims to show that a posteriori observation of the world cannot provide a basis to conclude that a perfect God exists because the world contains imperfections like evil

Hume isn’t trying to prove that there is no designer – just that a posteriori evidence cannot be used to show that the designer must be the God of classical theism

Question 28

How can Paley be defended from the argument provided by Hume that the evil in the world is evidence against God?

Answer 28

Evil may be unavoidable in order for God to bring about good:
– soul-making requires evil
– free will requires evil

Question 29

Hume’s critique of analogy

Answer 29

The smoke produced by fire and dry ice is very similar but their causes not similar

Two effects which are alike (analogous) might in fact have very different causes

Question 30

Hume’s critique of analogy quote

Answer 30

“Can you claim to show any such similarity between the structure of a house and the generation of a universe?”

Question 31

Critic: David Hume

Criticism: Multiple Designers or an Imperfect Designer

Answer 31

Hume challenges the idea that the design argument necessitates a single perfect designer – proposing the possibility of multiple designers or a single designer with limitations to account for imperfections and suffering in the world

Question 32

Critic: David Hume

Criticism: Infinite Regress and the Need for an Explanation

Answer 32

Hume contends that if complexity and order in the universe demand an explanation then the existence of a designer itself necessitates an explanation – leading to an infinite regress that fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for the existence and design of the universe

Question 33

Karl Barth’s original sin critique of natural theology

Answer 33

Karl Barth was influenced by Augustine – who claimed that after the Fall our ability to reason become corrupted by original sin

Barth states that it is dangerous to rely on corrupted human reason to know anything of God

Question 34

Karl Barth’s original sin critique of natural theology – quote

Answer 34

“The finite has no capacity for the infinite”

Question 35

Barth even thought that natural theology led to…

Answer 35

idolatry

Question 36

Aquinas defends natural theology

Answer 36

Aquinas claimed that original sin only destroyed “original justice” which was our perfect rational control over our desires

It did not destroy our ability to reason itself

This is because only rational beings can sin – it makes no sense to say that animals sin

Question 37

H.H. Price: belief-that vs belief-in

Answer 37

H.H. Price distinguishes between belief-that and belief-in

Belief-that refers to having a cognitive belief about the existence of something

Belief-in entails a deeper personal commitment and trust in the reality or significance of something

Question 38

H.H. Price: belief-that vs belief-in

Critics argue that even if the design argument provides logical support for the existence of an intelligent designer it falls short of…

Answer 38

generating a profound belief-in God that would transform the worldview or way of life of someone

Question 39

H.H. Price: belief-that vs belief-in

How does this belief critique the value for faith of the design argument?

Answer 39

It points out its potential inability to generate a deep personal commitment and transformative conviction in an intelligent designer – limiting its impact on the worldviews and lived experiences of an individual